Review: CHAT Turns AI Into a Demonic Houseguest

More Horror
1 day ago
3 min read

I’m a fan of the good possession-within-the-family-moving-to-a-new-house trope. Truly, I am. So I couldn't resist watching and writing about a movie called CHAT directed by Ole J Hartmann.

As always, I want to include a disclaimer in my reviews: this piece contains spoilers.

In this economy, where everything feels expensive, buying a house often means selling your soul to the devil for a bargain and quite literally in this film. The story follows the Cadieux family, consisting of three members and soon to welcome a fourth, as the mom is pregnant. The family includes Brad, the father (Carter Sirianni), Michelle, the mother (Alexis Schrepple), and their son, Michael (Grant Griffin). They stumble upon a too-good-to-be-true deal on a new, fully furnished home.

From the beginning, the film makes it clear that something heinous happened in that house before the Cadieux family moved in, creating a sense of helplessness and vulnerability that makes viewers like me feel uneasy. Ole J Hartmann plays the shady real estate agent who sold the cursed house to the family. The movie assaults us with uncomfortable close-up shots and dead bodies. CHAT taps into a theme I can't get enough of: discovering the tragedy that made this place cursed.

As with any unsuspecting family, obvious clues reveal that something isn’t right. In this case, we notice a dead animal in the yard’s trash, random maggots on the floor, and an overpowering smell of bleach. Sometimes, we ignore the red flags around us until it’s too late. More on that later.

While I found the concept of a tablet inhabited by a demon named Beelzebul, disguised as an AI chatbot, funny and different, I felt misled. When Michael discovers the tablet and makes a “friend,” I expected a gradual relationship to form between him and the AI demon. I imagined Michael acting as a constant conduit for the demonic entity. Instead, their rapport felt superficial.

After Michael recited the summoning/possession spell at Beelzebul's request, their interactions diminished, lacking a deeper connection.

Brad falls victim to possession (thanks to his son’s recited words), and glaring signs point to something being off. Dad becomes pale, can’t stomach food, and clearly needs an exorcist, yet Michelle somehow fails to notice. This illustrates how someone can ignore warnings, hoping whatever situation they’re in will work out. Amid all this possession, the film introduces Michelle’s dad (Christopher Fusselman), a man grappling with religious psychosis/trauma. We see snippets of his life as he lives alone in a room cluttered with tattered Bible pages and filth.

He eventually arrives at the Cadieux’s unholy home to confront the AI demon he shares history with (what a gag). Unfortunately, things don’t end well for Grandpops.

One thing I enjoyed was watching how negative energy slowly disintegrates a family's safety and well-being. The film explores multiple layers, including possession, pregnancy, child struggles, generational trauma, and a father's concerns about the paranormal. Some viewers may relate to one or two aspects, or maybe even more. Yikes.

The climax occurs when the possessed father attempts to take his wife’s life while the kid witnesses it, evoking concern from the audience. I won’t delve into the specifics, but domestic violence often leads to more violence and, sometimes, death. I truly felt for the kid.

You can experience the ending on your own; here’s a hint: the shady real estate agent shows up again at the end of the film.

I might change my thoughts on certain parts after watching the movie more than once, and I may notice details I missed the first time. Either way, the overall message explores what greed does to a person, and how that can affect others around them. Some parts of the film feel rough around the edges, but it remains understandable.

CHAT is available on Prime Video, so watch it. Just remember to turn off your tablet if you have one.

Damian Hex is a horror-themed performer, video game tester, and media personality. As a proud queer person of color, he uses his voice to amplify marginalized voices. You can find him at screenings, nightlife events, conventions, and ghoul gatherings.

When he is not outside striking terror into the hearts of innocents, you can catch him spreading the unholy word to audiences on Twitch. Speaking of Twitch, he has several favorite game titles, including Cult of the Lamb, Hollow Knight, Mortal Kombat, Parasite Eve, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Follow Damian on Instagram @damianhex